Making a job or career transition can be stressful. Complicating the challenge are the emotions that surface when we are introduced to a new environment and new people. People who have been working together for a while have bonds forged in the work they have done together. It is only natural to feel like a…

One of my mentors in hospitality told me, “The moment your feet touch the ground on property, consider yourself ‘on.’” He would repeat these words when addressing resort operations staff prior to high season, letting us all know that we are to be ambassadors of our resort brand to every one of our guests. This…

In my previous role, I had the honor of supporting a great number of amazing multi-unit restaurant leaders over the course of twelve years. I learned as much from them as I hope they did from me. I think the roles of Area Director, Regional Manager, and other multi-unit roles are the most important posts…

We know that the people in your organization are the most critical factor in your success, but do you spend enough time identifying, recruiting, and retaining top-caliber people? In my experience, most organizations do not. When a talent vacancy occurs leaving you short-staffed, you want to fill it as quickly as possible. The problem with…

“She’s knowledgeable, articulate, and relatable. We like her experience. But…we can’t tell if she wants the job. So, we’re going to move on to another candidate.” We hear that post-interview feedback from a client several times a year. When we asked the candidate about the same interview, the candidate usually says, “It went very well.”…

Interviewing with a Celebrity Chef or Restaurateur We are privileged to serve all of our clients, and some of our clients have celebrity status. Some are Chefs with hit TV shows, best-seller cookbooks, and successful worldwide businesses. Some are restaurateurs who seem to strike gold with every new operation they open. When you are interviewing…

This year SHS has been in analytics mode, employing a professional researcher to study a variety of topics that affect hiring in the hospitality verticals we serve. (What can I say? We’re curious.) One piece of the research included the analysis of over 500 job postings to gather objective data on the attributes sought most…

Leaders Create Capacity My twelve year old daughter made something so crystal clear for me a couple of weeks ago. The Thursday prior to the Super Bowl, we had a conversation on the way to and from soccer practice. She felt overwhelmed with a lot of homework and a big science fair project due on…

Four Interview Basics That Give You An Edge Many job applicants are losing sight of some basic interviewing skills, and it’s not just recruiters who are noticing. Here are just four basics that will give you an edge over your competition. Arrive Early, Unflustered Several years back I had a candidate who had an interview…

In 15 years as an agency recruiter I have had countless conversations with professionals at a crossroads in their career. Some were able to make critical decisions from a position of strength, some were at a point of weakness, and some were in a panic. “Life” just crept up, and they found themselves needing to…